A Man Lay Dead

A Man Lay Dead

First edition
Author	Ngaio Marsh
Language	English
Series	Roderick Alleyn
Genre	Detective fiction
Publisher	Geoffrey Bles
Publication date	1934
Media type	Print
Followed by	Enter a Murderer

A Man Lay Dead is a detective novel by Ngaio Marsh; it is the first novel to feature Roderick Alleyn, and was first published in 1934. The plot concerns a murder committed during a detective game of murder at a weekend party in a country house.

There is a side-plot focused on Russians, ancient weapons, and secret societies. The murder concerns a small group of guests at Sir Hubert Handesley's estate. Unlike later novels, this novel focuses more on Nigel Bathgate and less on Alleyn.